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THE LAST OF US PART II
review | PLAYSTATION 4
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Publisher: Sony.
Developer: Naughty Dog. Released: June 2020. Genre: Action/Adventure. Posted 24th July 2025. By Shane Battams © 2025 |
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It’s safe to say that few games garnered as much division and attention as The Last of Us Part II. After its predecessor proved beloved of critics and fans, and perhaps shaped the way story-driven games played the following generation, the seven-year wait proved lengthy. However, a combination of pre-launch leaks, a vitriolic backlash against certain development choices, and a subversion of expectations on a scale that would make Metal Gear Solid 2 blush all seemed to coalesce into a huge mess. This was likely not helped by the circumstances of its 2020 release, with most people stuck at home during the pandemic. If you take this sequel on its own merits, it’s an oft-enjoyable venture that perhaps struggles to realise “less is more” at times, though Naughty Dog’s immense creative talent still shines through.
TLOU2 takes place five years after the conclusion of the first game. Ellie and Joel live in Jackson, as a quaint group of survivors take refuge away from the infected while performing patrols to ensure safety. But Ellie’s life is turned upside down by a tragic event, setting her on a revenge-fuelled collision course against Abby, a trained soldier who has her own deep backstory. It’s another mostly incredibly well-written narrative, with believable dialogue that humanises everyone you interact with, subtle foreshadowing that can be missed on a first playthrough and enjoyable characters both returning and new. There are even ties to dialogue from the previous game that shapes the story’s outcome.
TLOU Part II builds on its predecessor's superb storytelling and design, but a 20+hour runtime feels bloated
Unfortunately, a big twist during the midpoint results in something of a reset, which feels anticlimactic considering the semi-cliffhanger that precedes it is left unanswered for 10 hours. The second half of the story lacks the nuance or creativity of the first, revisiting certain ideas and concepts from the first game, but not quite matching it for sheer brilliance. For example, flashback sequences appear in both halves of the campaign, and while scenes featuring Joel and Ellie are outstanding, the other portion feels far less enjoyable, almost killing the pace. The final stretch grows particularly wearisome, serving to undermine the story told to that point, which is a shame.
In terms of the gameplay, in comparison, there is honestly little to complain about. There’s a slew of welcome refinements to the gameplay loop of stealth and combat. Ellie comes armed with a pistol, rifle and shotgun but gains further weapons through story and exploration. You can eventually craft traps such as smoke bombs or explosive mines by scavenging resources. As before, a ton of collectable items allows you insight into the world or upgrade your abilities and weapons through supplements or scrap, respectively. Special mention must go to the collectable cards, which see dozens of fictional superheroes and villains written out in detail.
In terms of the gameplay, in comparison, there is honestly little to complain about. There’s a slew of welcome refinements to the gameplay loop of stealth and combat. Ellie comes armed with a pistol, rifle and shotgun but gains further weapons through story and exploration. You can eventually craft traps such as smoke bombs or explosive mines by scavenging resources. As before, a ton of collectable items allows you insight into the world or upgrade your abilities and weapons through supplements or scrap, respectively. Special mention must go to the collectable cards, which see dozens of fictional superheroes and villains written out in detail.
FOCAL POINT: SEARCHING IN SEATTLE
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In a parallel with Uncharted 4’s Madagascar level, The Last of Us Part II sees Naughty Dog experimenting with a non-linear chapter, courtesy of Ellie’s Day 1 in Seattle. Allowing you to ride around a spacious Downtown area on horseback, there are several locations to explore and loot, each with its own story to tell. One such locale is Westlake Bank, which saw a crew attempt a heist during the initial outbreak, and also houses a nod to another Naughty Dog series. The majority of this location can be skipped, but doing so sees you missing out on goodies and clever stories that are tucked away. It’s a beautiful ruin, showcasing nature reclaiming its stature as the dominant force after the outbreak. It certainly lives up to the prior effort from UC4, and hints at potential if Naughty Dog decided to commit to the format.
Enemies come in both human and infected forms, but in a neat touch hinted at in Left Behind, several sections see both roaming the environment and can be pitted against one another: you can even grab human foes and throw them into infected for an easy kill. The shooting remains weighty but feels tighter, AI proves adept both in combat and stealth, and expansive environments gift plenty of opportunities for cool experimentation. Even puzzles feel more diverse, including scavenger hunts to open safes for resources (though, in another cool touch, you can crack them by listening to the sound of the clicking lock). The gameplay works well on almost all fronts.
Speaking of beauty, Naughty Dog would push the PS4 further to create one of the system’s best-looking games. Characters are crafted with immense clarity via motion-captured movements, exhibiting personal ticks and raw emotion few games can emulate. Environments are sprawling yet detailed, beautifully lit and bearing distinctive little touches: the earlier snowy chapters see your prints cleared by falling snow. Infected remain unsettling in design, with new variants proving particularly creepy. Seeing the ruined Downtown area as far as the eye can see is truly impressive. Performance is almost always is sturdy too, but for a few hitches during intense moments. The sound is also strong, as a slew of talented actors deliver fantastic performances to back the motion capture. Potent weaponry and unnerving sounds, such as the wheezing cries of the new Shambler infected, all work too. The only disappointment is perhaps the music, as while it fits and can certainly build tension or heighten action, it lacks the memorability of the prior game.
Speaking of beauty, Naughty Dog would push the PS4 further to create one of the system’s best-looking games. Characters are crafted with immense clarity via motion-captured movements, exhibiting personal ticks and raw emotion few games can emulate. Environments are sprawling yet detailed, beautifully lit and bearing distinctive little touches: the earlier snowy chapters see your prints cleared by falling snow. Infected remain unsettling in design, with new variants proving particularly creepy. Seeing the ruined Downtown area as far as the eye can see is truly impressive. Performance is almost always is sturdy too, but for a few hitches during intense moments. The sound is also strong, as a slew of talented actors deliver fantastic performances to back the motion capture. Potent weaponry and unnerving sounds, such as the wheezing cries of the new Shambler infected, all work too. The only disappointment is perhaps the music, as while it fits and can certainly build tension or heighten action, it lacks the memorability of the prior game.
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Naughty Dog's meticulous detail and design quality shines through once again
The only other major misstep you can levy at TLOU2 is its length, though not in the way you’d expect. Whereas the first game was around 12 hours long, an appropriate length for its cross-country tale, Part II doubles the runtime, with even a brisk run totalling more than 20 hours. The systems and mechanics struggle to keep you going for this duration of time, not helped by the aforementioned structure of the story. The overall pacing feels sluggish and a step backwards in comparison to the tight yet lengthy Uncharted 4. Considering how dark this game goes thematically, some may struggle to reach the end.
Still, The Last of Us Part II boasts enough quality moments, intricate detail and technical prowess to be highly enjoyable. As a continuation of an acclaimed story, it certainly divided fans, but the writing talent of Naughty Dog is still on show and makes for an engrossing thread. Refinements to the gameplay and subtle tweaks make for a fun game of experimentation with stealth or combat, while the visuals push the system to the absolute limit. Perhaps with some chapters cut and events rearranged, this could’ve been a truly superb sequel, but it instead feels a touch bloated. However, when this sequel does click, it offers thrills and shocks few games can match.
Still, The Last of Us Part II boasts enough quality moments, intricate detail and technical prowess to be highly enjoyable. As a continuation of an acclaimed story, it certainly divided fans, but the writing talent of Naughty Dog is still on show and makes for an engrossing thread. Refinements to the gameplay and subtle tweaks make for a fun game of experimentation with stealth or combat, while the visuals push the system to the absolute limit. Perhaps with some chapters cut and events rearranged, this could’ve been a truly superb sequel, but it instead feels a touch bloated. However, when this sequel does click, it offers thrills and shocks few games can match.
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VERDICT"Despite feeling a touch bloated by its structure and pacing, The Last of Us Part II still boasts enough quality moments, intricate detail and technical prowess to be highly enjoyable." OVERALL: 8/10 |
OTHER ICONIC NAUGHTY DOG GAMES REVIEWED
Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (2001, PlayStation 2)
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Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016, PlayStation 4)
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